Kuniko Yagi

Chef Kuniko was born in Maebashi, Japan, and moved to California after switching careers from the finance to cooking, and has not been able to leave this sunny state ever since. Her culinary aspirations blossomed in the kitchen of Michelin-starred Sona and moved quickly through the ranks in a few short years to Chef de Cuisine, working side by side with famed Chef David Myers until its closing in 2010. Chef Kuniko's portfolio includes involvement in ambitious projects like Comme Ça West Hollywood and its' second location at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas as well as the pioneering of award-winning Hinoki & the Bird in Century City. She is also recognized as a TV favorite during her time on Bravo's Top Chef, as well as countless mentions in top publications including Food & Wine, ELLE magazine, Esquire, Bon Appetit, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine and LA Weekly. Fame and awards aside, Chef Kuniko feels happiest when she is in a bustling kitchen filled with people who love to cook. In partnership with Kaizen Dining Group, Chef Kuniko created Pikunico, which is her first restaurant concept that represents her sentiments of both her past in Japan and present in California. When not at the stove, Kuniko spends her time surfing, knitting and walking her handsome German Shepherd, Hinoki, in Venice Beach.